Type of course

Admission requirements

PhD students or holders of a Norwegian master´s degree of five years or three + two years (or equivalent) may be admitted. Only students with a background in physics, or another discipline which provides the student with the relevant knowledge, may be admitted. Students are expected to have skills equivalent to the prerequisites listed for the course.

PhD students are exempt from semester fee.

Applicants who are not PhD student at UiT must attach a confirmation of their status as a PhD student from their home institution. Students who hold a Master of Science degree, but are not yet enrolled as a PhD-student have to attach a copy of their master's degree diploma. These students are also required to pay the semester fee.

More information regarding PhD courses at the Faculty of Science and Technology is found here.

The course will only be taught if there is a sufficient number of students.

Course content

The course comprises the following topics: light-matter interaction in dielectric media, guided optics (fibers, integrated waveguides), laser amplifiers and lasers, photon detectors, photonic integrated circuits, and optical sensors.

The students obtain practical experience through laboratory exercises and simulations using commercial software. The students are required to use scientific literature and give a presentation on a given topic.

Recommended prerequisites

Objectives of the course

Knowledge - The student can:

• describe the structure and use of optical waveguides and fibers
• explain the principles and operation of optical amplifiers, lasers, and detectors
• describe current, advanced photonic systems used in communication and sensing applications

Skills - The student can:

• analyze the propagation, reflection and transmission of light through fibers and integrated optical elements
• apply Maxwells equations, in particular to analyze optical waveguides
• set up equations for resonators, optical amplifiers and lasers
• construct optical measurement set-ups and perform advanced optical measurements
• analyze and interpret measurement results
• handle and characterize optical components, including waveguides, fibers, and lasers
• use advanced simulation software for photonics, and simulate selected optical components
• design and simulate optical waveguides for new applications

General competence - The student can:

• describe how photonics is used within telecom, sensing, R&D, and for other applications.

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Lectures: 30 hours

Exercises: 20 hours

Laboratory, simulation exercises and projects: 30 hours